1936 Studebaker Dictator Coupe

Take a wistful glance over your shoulder, and it’s easy to see that the Thirties was an exciting time throughout the automobile industry. It was a great age of car design, with a flood of new and innovative ideas. Studebaker was one of the rising stars, with its flamboyant lines and then-powerful six-cylinder 90hp Dictator sixes and 107hp Commander straight eights. The President, Land Cruiser, Commander and Dictator models all offered up powerful images to go with imposing streamlined bodywork that featured unusual window openings, massive ballooned front fenders and a narrow, upright grille treatment. Their look emulated the feeling of speed and style so apparent in this period in automotive design.

When Derrick Carson found an ultra-rare 1936 Dictator Coupe in his local Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper back in 1993, he didn’t quite know what it was. However, after a call and a little research he was pretty excited. Derrick had always wanted a three-window Willys, but this three-window Studebaker sounded even better.

The coupe was in an old barn in Price, Utah, 100 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, sitting on a dirt floor. It had not been licensed since 1946, but it still ran on its original flathead six-cylinder engine with 96,000 miles on the clock. He immediately plunked down the $2,500 asking price, and had it towed back to Salt Lake City.

With the help of Steve Taylor, Pete Johnson and Brad Stultz, Derrick attacked the coupe. He wanted a smooth ride with a retro-look, but he wanted a good driving car that handled and stopped well too. So, the frame was removed and fitted with a 1974 Nova front end, adding a modern independent suspension, power steering and disc brakes. The rearend was updated with a 1974 Chevy 10-bolt running a posi and 3.73 gears, but all still suspended by the stock Studebaker springs. A 1978 Pontiac tilt column was also added, along with 15-inch Vintique steel wheels and Moon ripple discs.

The powertrain was also altered with a 1974 Chevrolet 350 V8 and a Turbo 350 tranny. For induction, there’s an Edelbrock aluminum manifold with a matching 600cfm Performer carburetor topped with an Edelbrock air cleaner. To cool the 350, Derrick had the stock Studebaker radiator re-cored.

The exhaust has stock Chevrolet cast iron manifolds and a pair of aluminized 2-1/4-inch diameter tube Terminator mufflers. The body was solid with few rust repairs needed, but it had more than the usual dings and a dents for its age which all needed repair. The only body changes were the removal of several emblems, smoothed and shaved bumpers and running board. With work handled, the coupe was painted in primer, but over the past five years Derrick had put it though several primer color changes until its current satin black DuPont Epoxy Primer Sealer finish which he applied just recently. To add some sweet highlights to the blackness, Derrick had Bruce Bingham lay on some cool multi-colored pinstriping.

The interior was handed off to Dennis Bingham in Paris, Idaho, where he re-trimmed the basically stock interior in tan and saddle tones. t this stage the stock instruments were converted to a 12-volt system with a Wiremaster board and harness installed by Steve Taylor, along with a Kenwood CD player and a sound system with EQ and Punch 10-inch sub-woofers.

According to Derrick, "Most people want to know where the back window came from. They really get a kick out of its look and I love how it opens out for airflow." After all, he’d be the first to agree that looking back has its advantages.